Injuries and disciplinary issues continue to pile up for the Washington Commanders ahead of their upcoming game against the Detroit Lions.

While Detroit likely won’t have to face rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is still recovering from an elbow injury, the Commanders could also be without one of their defensive anchors. Linebacker Frankie Luvu has been suspended for one game without pay after committing his third hip-drop tackle infraction of the season.

Luvu had already been fined for similar plays in Weeks 4 and 8, and another violation—this time on Jackson Smith-Njigba during the opening quarter of Sunday night’s game—led to further discipline from the league. Washington went on to lose that contest 38–14, marking their fourth straight defeat and third consecutive loss by 20 points or more.

The 29-year-old linebacker is appealing the suspension, but if the ruling stands, he will forfeit a game check worth approximately $508,333 when the Commanders host the Lions this Sunday.

This isn’t Luvu’s first run-in with the NFL’s player-safety policies. He drew attention from the league office during last season’s playoff matchup between these same teams, when he was fined twice—totaling $33,766—for a late hit on quarterback Jared Goff and another hip-drop tackle on running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

According to an NFL statement, Luvu’s suspension stems from “repeated violations of playing rules designed to protect the safety and health of players.” The swivel hip-drop tackle was formally outlawed prior to the 2024 season after data showed it frequently causes leg injuries.

The rule defines a foul when a defender “grabs or wraps up a runner” and then “drops or swivels his hips to unweight himself, landing on or trapping the runner’s legs below the knee.”

Now in his eighth NFL season, Luvu has recorded 50 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble across nine games. His absence adds another blow to a Washington defense already ranked near the bottom of the league, especially after losing cornerback Marshon Lattimore to a torn ACL on Sunday.

For a Lions offense that sputtered against the Vikings last week, Luvu’s potential absence could be a timely break as they look to regain momentum on the road.